Our Mother of Good Counsel


Our Mother of Good Counsel,  Mater Boni Consilii

Our Mother of Good Counsel

Mater Boni Consilii

This painting of Our Mother of Good Counsel hangs in the Benedictine monastery in New Norcia, Western Australia. It was given to New Norcia's founder, Bishop Salvado, by Saint Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850) in Rome in 1845. When the mission was threatened by fire, Bishop Salvado prayed before the flames with this painting and the settlement was saved.


Prayer to Our Mother of Good Counsel 

By Pope Pius XII

O Holy Virgin, to whose feet we are led by our anxious uncertainty in our search for and attainment of what is true and good, invoking you by the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel, we beseech you to come to our assistance, when, along the road of this life, the darkness of error and of evil conspires towards our ruin by leading our minds and our hearts astray. 

O Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, enlighten the doubtful and the erring, that they be not seduced by the false appearances of good; render them steadfast in the face of the hostile and corrupting influences of passion and of sin. 

O Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from your Divine Son a great love of virtue, and, in the hour of uncertainty and trial, the strength to embrace the way that leads to our salvation. If your hand sustains us, we shall walk unmolested along the path indicated to us by the life and words of Jesus, our Redeemer; and having followed freely and securely, even in the midst of this world's strife, the Sun of Truth and Justice under your maternal Star, we shall come to the enjoyment of full and eternal peace with you in the haven of salvation. 

Amen. 


 O Mary of Good Counsel

 O Mary of Good Counsel,                                                                                                                                               inflame the hearts of all who are devoted to you,                                                                                                             so that all of them have shelter in you,                                                                                                                                 O great Mother of God.                                                                                                                                                             O most worthy Lady,                                                                                                                                                                 let everyone choose you as teacher                                                                                                                                   and wise counsellor of their souls,                                                                                                                                   since you are, as Saint Augustine says,                                                                                                                               the counsel of the Apostles and counsel of all peoples.                                                                                                   Amen.


 Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel. 

 Most Glorious Virgin,                                                                                                                                                               you were chosen by the eternal Counsel                                                                                                                             to be the Mother of the Eternal Word made flesh.                                                                                                       You are the treasurer of divine graces                                                                                                                             and the advocate of sinners.                                                                                                                                                     I who am your most unworthy servant                                                                                                                           have recourse to you.                                                                                                                                                   Graciously be my guide and counsellor                                                                                                                               in this valley of tears.

 Obtain for me,                                                                                                                                                                 through the Precious Blood of your Divine Son,                                                                                                             the forgiveness of my sins,                                                                                                                                                     the salvation of my soul,                                                                                                                                                       and the means necessary to obtain it.                                                                                                                                   Also, obtain for the Holy Church                                                                                                                                     victory over Her enemies                                                                                                                                                       and the spread of Jesus' kingdom                                                                                                                                       over the whole earth. 

 Amen.


Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pasquale Sarullo, 19th Century

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pasquale Sarullo, 19th Century


Prayer to Our Mother of Good Counsel 

O Mary,
Mother of Good Counsel,
you are the first and most faithful
of the disciples of Jesus.
Our Father chose you to present His son to the world; 
guide me on the path that leads to Him. 
In this passing world
our hearts are fearful and our judgments uncertain.
I come to you for guidance that
I may know Jesus and for confidence
that I may put all my trust in Him.
Instruct me in the way of generous giving,
that I may share His and your love for all.
O Mary, the dwelling place of God’s wisdom,
guide me in all I do and set my footsteps
on the way of peace. Amen.


Original Image of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Genazzano, Italy, 1467

Original Image of Our Mother of Good Counsel (1467) and Altar, Genazzano, Italy


About the Image of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano

- By Tom Perna (tomperna.org)

...  I thought I would share with you the story behind the image and how devotion has unfolded since the mid to later fifteenth century.

In the small town of Genazzano, in the Alban Hills, not that far from Rome, Italy, is the where the image of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Mater boni consilii in Latin) is located and venerated by the faithful. In 1467, during the Feast of St. Mark, pilgrims to the area heard beautiful music playing. As their attention was drawn to the sky, they witnessed what seemed to be a cloud slowly descending upon a wall of the church that was unfinished. The wall where the cloud came to rest was dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God with the title of Good Counsel. For five centuries, the image rests suspended, with no visible support. The image is painted on plaster, which is no thicker than a card. It has remained there all these many years. It is not known to this day who painted the image.

The two figures represent the Mother and the Child after their return from the Temple where they presented Jesus and also where Simeon spoke the sad prophecies to Mary. Our Lady’s eyes are half closed as she is in contemplation – she is taking counsel with God. Our Lord, the little child, does not look at us, but He looks to his Mother, showing us that we must turn to her for Counsel – the Seat of Wisdom. It is an image that should be in every home.

Mary became the Mother of God when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her at the Annunciation. She now holds the gifts of the Holy Spirit – wisdom, understanding, and counsel. Since she is the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary has become our Mother of Good Counsel. Mary was the given the responsibility and duty to counsel Our Lord Jesus Christ as a child. Knowing this, we should look towards her when seeking counsel for our own lives.


St Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) visits Image of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Genazzano, Italy

St Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) visits Image of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Genazzano, Italy


The Title Our Mother of Good Counsel

Pope Pius IX (1792-1878) said his first Mass before the Image of Our Mother of Good Counsel. In 1893 Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) approved for the laity the use of the white scapular of Our Lady of Good Counsel, and in 1903 he had the title Mother of Good Counsel added to the Litany of Loreto. Pope Leo XIII instructed the faithful regarding devotion to Our Mother of Good Counsel: "Children, follow her counsels". Pope Leo XIII also founded the Vatican Observatory which has our Mother of Good Counsel as its patroness.

In  June 1903 The Pilgrim reported on the title Mother of Good Counsel being added to the Litany of Loreto:

"From the moment in which the most Blessed Virgin Mary, filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit and illuminated by the splendour of His light, received with entire homage and affection of mind and heart the eternal Counsel of God and the mystery of the Incarnate Word, having become the Mother of God, she deserved to be also called Mother of Good Counsel. Instructed furthermore, by the oracles of Divine Wisdom, those words of life which she had received from her Son and preserved in her heart, she poured forth abundantly on her brethren.

Nor was it only at the marriage feast of Cana in Galilee that those who ministered followed the counsels of this new Rebecca; it is but just to believe that the pious women and the other disciples of our Lord, including the Holy Apostles themselves, heard and obeyed her words of wisdom. Which prerogative of the Virgin Mother of God we find acknowledged and confirmed when Jesus, about to die, seeing His Mother and the Disciple, whom He loved, standing near the cross, said to His Mother: “Woman, behold thy Son.” Then He said to the Disciple: “Behold thy Mother.” And from that hour the Disciple took her unto his own. But that John represented at that moment all the faithful of Christ, the Fathers of the Church have handed down to us as a sacred tradition. Moreover, from time immemorial, and with the full approval of the Holy See, the clergy and the Christian people united in imploring her aid, have saluted the Most Blessed Virgin with the glorious title, Mother of Good Counsel".

During the Second World War, an Allied bomb fell on the Basilica housing the miraculous image. It crushed the roof and exploded on the floor of the sanctuary. Many altars, including the main altar, were destroyed, and the walls of the church fell in amid plaster and dust and ancient paintings were destroyed. However the paper-thin image of Our Lady of Good Counsel, which stood within a few yards of the explosion, remained intact.

In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI (1927-2022) installed the icon of Our Lady of Good Counsel at the Vatican gardens and prayed the rosary before her icon.


White Scapular Our Mother of Good Counsel

White Scapular Our Mother of Good Counsel

Portrait of Our Mother of Good Counsel at the Vatican Observatory

Portrait of Our Mother of Good Counsel at the Vatican Observatory

Pope Benedict XVI and Icon of Our Mother of Good Counsel in the Vatican Gardens 2009

Pope Benedict XVI and Icon of Our Mother of Good Counsel in the Vatican Gardens 2009


 Litany of Our Mother of Good Counsel

 Lord, have mercy on us.                                                                                                                                                     Christ, have mercy on us.                                                                                                                                                     Lord have mercy on us.                                                                                                                                                    Christ, hear us.                                                                                                                                                                     Christ, graciously hear us.                                                                                                                                                     God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.                                                                                                               God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.                                                                                         God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.                                                                                                                           Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. 

 Holy Mary, pray for us.                                                                                                                                                           Holy Mother of God, pray for us.                                                                                                                                         Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.                                                                                                                                 Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.                                                                                                                             Daughter of the Heavenly Father, pray for us.                                                                                                         Mother of the Divine Son, pray for us.                                                                                                                           Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.                                                                                                                         Temple of the most Holy Trinity, pray for us.                                                                                                               Dispenser of graces, pray for us.                                                                                                                                       Gate of heaven, pray for us.                                                                                                                                             Queen of Angels, pray for us.                                                                                                                                         Honour of patriarchs, pray for us.                                                                                                                                     Glory of prophets, pray for us.                                                                                                                                         Counsellor of apostles, pray for us.                                                                                                                               Counsellor of martyrs, pray for us.                                                                                                                                   Counsellor of confessors, pray for us.                                                                                                                             Counsellor of virgins, pray for us.                                                                                                                             Counsellor of all saints, pray for us.                                                                                                                         Counsellor of the afflicted, pray for us.                                                                                                                     Counsellor of widows and orphans, pray for us.                                                                                                   Counsellor of the sick, pray for us.                                                                                                                         Counsellor of the sorrowful and of prisoners, pray for us.                                                                                       Counsellor of the poor, pray for us.                                                                                                                       Counsellor of the needy, pray for us.                                                                                                                       Counsellor in all temptations, pray for us.                                                                                                           Counsellor of penitent sinners, pray for us.                                                                                                               Counsellor of the dying, pray for us.

 In all anxiety and trouble, give us good counsel.                                                                                                               In all affairs and necessities, give us good counsel.                                                                                                         In all doubts and perplexities, give us good counsel.                                                                                                         In all afflictions and adversities, give us good counsel.                                                                                                     In all dangers and misfortunes, give us good counsel.                                                                                                     In all undertakings and concerns, give us good counsel.                                                                                               In all our needs, give us good counsel.                                                                                                                                 In all crosses and sufferings, give us good counsel.                                                                                                             In all temptations and snares, give us good counsel.                                                                                                       In persecution and calumny, give us good counsel.                                                                                                         In all wrong suffered, give us good counsel.                                                                                                                           In all dangers of soul and body, give us good counsel.                                                                                                     In all the events of our life, give us good counsel.                                                                                                             In all sickness and infirmity, give us good counsel.                                                                                                           In the hour of death, give us good counsel.    

 Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                                                                                                         spare us, O Lord.                                                                                                                                                                     Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                                                                                                 graciously hear us, O Lord.                                                                                                                                                       Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                                                                                                   have mercy on us, O Lord.

 Our Father, Who art in heaven,                                                                                                                                           Hallowed be Thy Name.                                                                                                                                                         Thy Kingdom come.                                                                                                                                                               Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.                                                                                                                   Give us this day our daily bread.                                                                                                                                         And forgive us our trespasses,                                                                                                                                                 as we forgive those who trespass against us.                                                                                                                   And lead us not into temptation,                                                                                                                                         but deliver us from evil.  

 Bring us good counsel, O Blessed Virgin Mary.                                 

 O God, the giver of all good and perfect gifts,                                                                                                                       let us, who seek refuge with Mary,                                                                                                                                       obtain in all our wants, troubles and affairs,                                                                                                                 good counsel, help and assistance for the sake of Jesus Christ Your Son.

 Amen.



A history of the miraculous translation of the Image of Our Mother of Good Counsel to Genazzano in 1467 is provided in the Book 'Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano' by Anne R. Bennett (compiled from the work of Mgr. George F. Dillon), 1888.

A full copy of this wonderful old book in pdf (212 pages) can be downloaded from this website.

Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, by Anne R. Bennett, 1888



Some prayers relating to Saint Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850) who provided the painting of Our Mother of Good Counsel at the top of this webpage to Bishop Salvado in 1845 for Western Australia.


Prayer in Honour of Saint Vincent Pallotti

 Saint Vincent Pallotti,                                                                                                                                                             you were moulded by God, the infinite love.                                                                                                                     You answered God's call to serve Him.                                                                                                                               You were there for those seeking counsel,                                                                                                                         for the sick, for the youth and the aging,                                                                                                                           for the rich and the poor,                                                                                                                                                       for people of any profession and walk of life.                                                                                                                     All were important to you.                                                                                                                                                     You wanted to inspire each and every one                                                                                                                         for the Kingdom of God,                                                                                                                                                 reminding people of their duty                                                                                                                                               to be apostles and preparing them for this work.

 Now I call upon you to intercede for me.                                                                                                                       Help me to pray.                                                                                                                                                                   Help me to pray only for what I truly need,                                                                                                                   what I can truly use,                                                                                                                                                             what is for my salvation and the honour of God.                                                                                                           You received many graces and gifts from God.                                                                                                               You always thanked God beforehand,                                                                                                                                 as if your prayer had already been answered.

 Saint Vincent Pallotti,                                                                                                                                                                   I ask you to submit my petitions to God.                                                                                                                             Be my helper                                                                                                                                                                               as I place this prayer before God the Father,                                                                                                                 through Jesus Christ.                                                                                                                                                               Do not leave me without your help.                                                                                                                                   Bless me.                                                                                                                                                                               Show me the way to Christ.                                                                                                                                               Through the Spirit,                                                                                                                                                                   lead me to the Father.

 Amen.


 Prayer to Jesus in the Eucharist

 by Saint Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850)


 Jesus in the Eucharist, our God and King,

 Jesus in the Eucharist, our creator and Redeemer,

 Jesus in the Eucharist, our physician and our medicine,

 Jesus in the Eucharist, our food and our grace.

 Jesus in the Eucharist, our greatest good and happiness.

 Jesus in the Eucharist, infinitely loving and worthy of love.

 Jesus in the Eucharist, you are the greatest and most holy of our mysteries.

 St. Vincent Pallotti, pray for us.



Saint Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850)

Saint Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850)


Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Immaculata Regina Pacis, ora pro nobis.